Jonathan Toyad, Associate Editor Follow

Greetings, and welcome to my list of the best games of 2012. As some in the Southeast Asia region may recall, I previously mentioned my top 3 games from this year on my GameSpot Asia Beat podcast. Obviously, I needed more time to collect my thoughts and figure out the remaining seven, so here we are.

In no particular order, here's a list of games that I either played to death, or that just left a lasting impression on me.

10. Spec Ops: The Line

Yes, you can criticize its tacked-on multiplayer and sand-pouring mechanic, but you'd be missing the entire point of Spec Ops: The Line. What we have here is a shooter that isn't afraid to tell its story; one that demonizes war and explores the dark corners a man can head to. It's also a huge criticism of the many shooters out there that glorify and justify their subject matter. While games are usually praised for being fun, this one in particular should be praised for taking a bold step in storytelling, albeit a grim one.

9. Dragon's Dogma

Capcom generally answered my prayers and came up with the brilliant idea of combining bits of Dark Souls, Monster Hunter, and Devil May Cry into one gumbo of RPG bliss. You haven't lived until you've seen a wizard and a ranger hanging onto a cyclops for dear life while pounding its skull and arm to kingdom come. While a bunch of goblins are pelting them with arrows. And a giant drake comes in just as they are out of curatives.

8. Street Fighter X Tekken

Despite the controversies surrounding it, this fighting game has a place in my heart because it's not every day you can team up a Russian bodybuilder with a grizzly bear, or with a cocksure Korean Tae Kwan Do practitioner. Combining aspects of both Street Fighter (zoning, supers) and Tekken (chain combos, tagging) while splashing in some new elements like gems and cross assaults makes for a meaty fighting experience. I do hope that the 2013 patch gets everyone back to playing this, because I'm having a hell of a hard time finding people to play against.

7. The Last Story

Some may regard the majority of The Last Story's narrative and character tropes as clichéd, but I call them comfort food. The trials and tribulations of Zael and his motley crew are worth giving a damn about; they shine thanks to their well-defined personalities and rich back stories. I'd even go so far as to say that Syrenne and Lowell's relationship was handled in a more mature and wholesome fashion than most TV shows or movies could hope to achieve. Beyond that, the Gears of War-inspired real-time combat is fresh and addictive, and the 20-hour duration is reminiscent of a time where RPGs did not need to have 70+ hours of padding.

6. Kid Icarus: Uprising

This 3DS title can take the "so good it hurts" award, as I had to take breaks after every two or three missions due to the questionable control scheme for the ground segments. Nonetheless, its fourth-wall-breaking humor, epic soundtrack and frenetic action combine to create a thrilling ride that made me persevere to see it through to its climax.

5. Rhythm Heaven Fever

As a purveyor of fine music, I should not forget about Nintendo's recent entry in the Rhythm Heaven series. Instead of opting for gimmicks like the DS Rhythm Heaven title, the Wii sequel went back to basics with its control scheme. Personally, I'm all for it as long as the wacky scenarios and situations are still intact. The developers upped the ante this time, making catchy tunes out of such riveting situations as a board meeting with pigs, a dance by elongated tap dancers, and an interview with a wrestler that made waves across YouTube.

4. Mark of the Ninja

You might not have believed a stealth game in 2D could work. Klei Entertainment made it possible while also making sure a ninja in a 2D space does what a ninja is supposed to do: sneak and assassinate, not blow stuff up in glorious fashion or go toe-to-toe with Godzilla. In addition to having a good story, the game does a great job of implementing noise and the cover of darkness as things you need to be mindful of. And like any proper ninja, you always look stylish and skillful doing the things that ninjas do.

3. Gravity Rush

I've always been a staunch supporter of new IPs, and Gravity Rush is a game that's important in this day and age. It weaves in huge influences from French comics while also being its own beast thanks to its gravity-shifting mechanic. The game makes simply exploring the corners of its world so much fun as you freefall and float around in style while also kicking bad guys' faces with full-fledged gravity kicks. With its lovable protagonist and lovely score, this game is a huge justification for owning a PS Vita.

2. Borderlands 2

I cannot imagine the ungodly number of hours I've poured into this game's multiplayer, re-killing bosses and re-doing stages, either with friends or with random strangers who usually aren't ninja looters of all things purple or orange. It's got great writing, memorable characters, and a main villain who I can safely declare to be the Kefka of 2012, so don't act too shocked if I'm still playing this game and raving about it after the year ends.

1.The Walking Dead

Honestly, before this year, the only game that had tugged on my heartstrings was Okami, and that was back in 2006. After seeing Telltale Games' The Walking Dead through to the end, I was in a world of depression. I'm impressed with how the devs presented the story for this game in an adult fashion while generating tension in timed moments of high-stakes decision-making. Between this, Journey and Spec Ops, I feel that story-heavy games are important in the grand scheme of things to elevate this medium we cherish so much.